diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/Database.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/Database.java
index a4075610..f68439fc 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/Database.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/Database.java
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ import org.json.JSONObject;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.UUID;
 
 public class Database {
     private static final int VERSION = 1;
 
     private List<DatabaseEntry> _entries = new ArrayList<>();
-    private long _counter = 0;
 
     public JSONObject serialize() throws Exception {
         JSONArray array = new JSONArray();
@@ -26,10 +26,6 @@ public class Database {
     }
 
     public void deserialize(JSONObject obj) throws Exception {
-        deserialize(obj, true);
-    }
-
-    public void deserialize(JSONObject obj, boolean incCount) throws Exception {
         // TODO: support different VERSION deserialization providers
         int ver = obj.getInt("version");
         if (ver != VERSION) {
@@ -40,30 +36,24 @@ public class Database {
         for (int i = 0; i < array.length(); i++) {
             DatabaseEntry entry = new DatabaseEntry(null);
             entry.deserialize(array.getJSONObject(i));
-
-            // if incCount is false, don't increment the counter and don't set an ID
-            // this is used by the database importer to prevent an exception down the line
-            // TODO: find a better solution for this ugly hack
-            if (incCount) {
-                addKey(entry);
-            } else {
-                _entries.add(entry);
-            }
+            addKey(entry);
         }
     }
 
-    public void addKey(DatabaseEntry entry) throws Exception {
-        entry.setID(++_counter);
+    public void addKey(DatabaseEntry entry) {
+        if (tryGetKeyByUUID(entry.getUUID()) != null) {
+            throw new AssertionError("entry found with the same uuid");
+        }
         _entries.add(entry);
     }
 
     public void removeKey(DatabaseEntry entry) {
-        entry = getKeyByID(entry.getID());
+        entry = getKeyByUUID(entry.getUUID());
         _entries.remove(entry);
     }
 
     public void replaceKey(DatabaseEntry newEntry) {
-        DatabaseEntry oldEntry = getKeyByID(newEntry.getID());
+        DatabaseEntry oldEntry = getKeyByUUID(newEntry.getUUID());
         _entries.set(_entries.indexOf(oldEntry), newEntry);
     }
 
@@ -75,12 +65,20 @@ public class Database {
         return Collections.unmodifiableList(_entries);
     }
 
-    private DatabaseEntry getKeyByID(long id) {
+    private DatabaseEntry tryGetKeyByUUID(UUID uuid) {
         for (DatabaseEntry entry : _entries) {
-            if (entry.getID() == id) {
+            if (entry.getUUID().equals(uuid)) {
                 return entry;
             }
         }
-        throw new AssertionError("no entry found with the same id");
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    private DatabaseEntry getKeyByUUID(UUID uuid) {
+        DatabaseEntry entry = tryGetKeyByUUID(uuid);
+        if (entry == null) {
+            throw new AssertionError("no entry found with the same uuid");
+        }
+        return entry;
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseEntry.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseEntry.java
index c3a4008d..564ed88f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseEntry.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseEntry.java
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ import org.json.JSONException;
 import org.json.JSONObject;
 
 import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.UUID;
 
 import me.impy.aegis.crypto.KeyInfo;
+import me.impy.aegis.crypto.KeyInfoException;
 
 public class DatabaseEntry implements Serializable {
-    private long _id = -1;
+    private UUID _uuid;
     private String _name = "";
     private String _icon = "";
     private KeyInfo _info;
@@ -19,22 +21,30 @@ public class DatabaseEntry implements Serializable {
 
     public DatabaseEntry(KeyInfo info) {
         _info = info;
+        _uuid = UUID.randomUUID();
     }
 
     public JSONObject serialize() throws JSONException {
         JSONObject obj = new JSONObject();
+        obj.put("uuid", _uuid.toString());
         obj.put("name", _name);
         obj.put("url", _info.getURL());
         return obj;
     }
 
-    public void deserialize(JSONObject obj) throws Exception {
+    public void deserialize(JSONObject obj) throws JSONException, KeyInfoException {
+        // if there is no uuid, generate a new one
+        if (!obj.has("uuid")) {
+            _uuid = UUID.randomUUID();
+        } else {
+            _uuid = UUID.fromString(obj.getString("uuid"));
+        }
         _name = obj.getString("name");
         _info = KeyInfo.fromURL(obj.getString("url"));
     }
 
-    public long getID() {
-        return _id;
+    public UUID getUUID() {
+        return _uuid;
     }
     public String getName() {
         return _name;
@@ -46,12 +56,6 @@ public class DatabaseEntry implements Serializable {
         return _info;
     }
 
-    void setID(long id) throws Exception {
-        if (_id != -1) {
-            throw new Exception("this entry has already received an id");
-        }
-        _id = id;
-    }
     public void setName(String name) {
         _name = name;
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseFile.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseFile.java
index 51e8736b..24ce5a97 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseFile.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseFile.java
@@ -40,9 +40,11 @@ public class DatabaseFile {
             cryptObj.put("tag", Hex.toString(_cryptParameters.Tag));
         }
 
+        // don't write the crypt parameters if the content is not encrypted
+        boolean plain = _content instanceof JSONObject || _slots.isEmpty() || cryptObj == null;
         JSONObject headerObj = new JSONObject();
-        headerObj.put("slots", _slots.isEmpty() ? JSONObject.NULL : SlotCollection.serialize(_slots));
-        headerObj.put("params", cryptObj != null ? cryptObj : JSONObject.NULL);
+        headerObj.put("slots", plain ? JSONObject.NULL : SlotCollection.serialize(_slots));
+        headerObj.put("params", plain ? JSONObject.NULL : cryptObj);
 
         JSONObject obj = new JSONObject();
         obj.put("version", VERSION);
@@ -99,6 +101,7 @@ public class DatabaseFile {
 
     public void setContent(JSONObject dbObj) {
         _content = dbObj;
+        _cryptParameters = null;
     }
 
     public void setContent(JSONObject dbObj, MasterKey key)
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseManager.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseManager.java
index 1eeb4920..1cadb9d8 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseManager.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/DatabaseManager.java
@@ -108,10 +108,13 @@ public class DatabaseManager {
 
     public String export(boolean encrypt) throws Exception {
         assertState(false, true);
+
+        DatabaseFile dbFile = new DatabaseFile();
+        dbFile.setSlots(_file.getSlots());
         if (encrypt && getFile().isEncrypted()) {
-            _file.setContent(_db.serialize(), _key);
+            dbFile.setContent(_db.serialize(), _key);
         } else {
-            _file.setContent(_db.serialize());
+            dbFile.setContent(_db.serialize());
         }
 
         File file;
@@ -123,7 +126,7 @@ public class DatabaseManager {
                 throw new IOException("error creating external storage directory");
             }
 
-            byte[] bytes = _file.serialize();
+            byte[] bytes = dbFile.serialize();
             file = new File(dir.getAbsolutePath(), encrypt ? FILENAME_EXPORT : FILENAME_EXPORT_PLAIN);
             stream = new FileOutputStream(file);
             stream.write(bytes);
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/slots/Slot.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/slots/Slot.java
index a5d8ec9a..ab054dba 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/slots/Slot.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/slots/Slot.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import org.json.JSONObject;
 import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.security.InvalidKeyException;
 import java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException;
+import java.util.UUID;
 
 import javax.crypto.BadPaddingException;
 import javax.crypto.Cipher;
@@ -24,13 +25,12 @@ public abstract class Slot implements Serializable {
     public final static byte TYPE_RAW = 0x00;
     public final static byte TYPE_DERIVED = 0x01;
     public final static byte TYPE_FINGERPRINT = 0x02;
-    public final static int ID_SIZE = 16;
 
-    protected byte[] _id;
+    protected UUID _uuid;
     protected byte[] _encryptedMasterKey;
 
     protected Slot() {
-        _id = CryptoUtils.generateRandomBytes(ID_SIZE);
+        _uuid = UUID.randomUUID();
     }
 
     // getKey decrypts the encrypted master key in this slot with the given key and returns it.
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public abstract class Slot implements Serializable {
     public JSONObject serialize() throws JSONException {
         JSONObject obj = new JSONObject();
         obj.put("type", getType());
-        obj.put("id", Hex.toString(_id));
+        obj.put("uuid", _uuid.toString());
         obj.put("key", Hex.toString(_encryptedMasterKey));
         return obj;
     }
@@ -66,12 +66,18 @@ public abstract class Slot implements Serializable {
         if (obj.getInt("type") != getType()) {
             throw new Exception("slot type mismatch");
         }
-        _id = Hex.toBytes(obj.getString("id"));
+        // if there is no uuid, generate a new one
+        if (!obj.has("uuid")) {
+            _uuid = UUID.randomUUID();
+        } else {
+            _uuid = UUID.fromString(obj.getString("uuid"));
+        }
         _encryptedMasterKey = Hex.toBytes(obj.getString("key"));
     }
 
     public abstract byte getType();
-    public String getID() {
-        return Hex.toString(_id);
+
+    public UUID getUUID() {
+        return _uuid;
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/slots/SlotCollection.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/slots/SlotCollection.java
index e34b2db5..b6a16030 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/slots/SlotCollection.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/db/slots/SlotCollection.java
@@ -66,6 +66,11 @@ public class SlotCollection implements Iterable<Slot>, Serializable {
     }
 
     public void add(Slot slot) {
+        for (Slot s : this) {
+            if (s.getUUID().equals(slot.getUUID())) {
+                throw new AssertionError("slot found with the same uuid");
+            }
+        }
         _slots.add(slot);
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/importers/AegisImporter.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/importers/AegisImporter.java
index 9f42ce67..4f24619c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/importers/AegisImporter.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/importers/AegisImporter.java
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ public class AegisImporter extends DatabaseImporter {
         DatabaseFile file = new DatabaseFile();
         file.deserialize(bytes);
         Database db = new Database();
-        db.deserialize(file.getContent(), false);
+        db.deserialize(file.getContent());
         return db.getKeys();
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/importers/FreeOTPImporter.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/importers/FreeOTPImporter.java
index ec39fa2c..17d0925d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/importers/FreeOTPImporter.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/importers/FreeOTPImporter.java
@@ -79,8 +79,7 @@ public class FreeOTPImporter extends DatabaseImporter {
                 byte[] secret = toBytes(obj.getJSONArray("secret"));
                 key.setSecret(secret);
 
-                DatabaseEntry profile = new DatabaseEntry(null);
-                profile.setInfo(key);
+                DatabaseEntry profile = new DatabaseEntry(key);
                 profiles.add(profile);
             }
         }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/AuthActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/AuthActivity.java
index 9bf4b21c..67f9b527 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/AuthActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/AuthActivity.java
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public class AuthActivity extends AegisActivity implements FingerprintUiHelper.C
             try {
                 // find a fingerprint slot with an id that matches an alias in the keystore
                 for (FingerprintSlot slot : _slots.findAll(FingerprintSlot.class)) {
-                    String id = slot.getID();
+                    String id = slot.getUUID().toString();
                     KeyStoreHandle handle = new KeyStoreHandle();
                     if (handle.containsKey(id)) {
                         SecretKey key = handle.getKey(id);
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/SlotManagerActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/SlotManagerActivity.java
index 888183fb..fde3a7d2 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/SlotManagerActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/SlotManagerActivity.java
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ public class SlotManagerActivity extends AegisActivity implements SlotAdapter.Li
             try {
                 KeyStoreHandle keyStore = new KeyStoreHandle();
                 for (FingerprintSlot slot : _slots.findAll(FingerprintSlot.class)) {
-                    if (keyStore.containsKey(slot.getID()) && FingerprintHelper.getManager(this) != null) {
+                    if (keyStore.containsKey(slot.getUUID().toString()) && FingerprintHelper.getManager(this) != null) {
                         visibility = View.GONE;
                         break;
                     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/dialogs/FingerprintDialogFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/dialogs/FingerprintDialogFragment.java
index d1ac0be4..1321dbb8 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/dialogs/FingerprintDialogFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/dialogs/FingerprintDialogFragment.java
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public class FingerprintDialogFragment extends SlotDialogFragment implements Fin
         FingerprintManager manager = FingerprintHelper.getManager(getContext());
         try {
             _slot = new FingerprintSlot();
-            SecretKey key = new KeyStoreHandle().generateKey(_slot.getID());
+            SecretKey key = new KeyStoreHandle().generateKey(_slot.getUUID().toString());
             _cipher = Slot.createCipher(key, Cipher.ENCRYPT_MODE);
             _helper = new FingerprintUiHelper(manager, imgFingerprint, textFingerprint, this);
         } catch (Exception e) {
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/slides/CustomAuthenticatedSlide.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/slides/CustomAuthenticatedSlide.java
index 6146f6b0..d3ab78a4 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/slides/CustomAuthenticatedSlide.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/slides/CustomAuthenticatedSlide.java
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ public class CustomAuthenticatedSlide extends Fragment implements FingerprintUiH
                         _storeHandle = new KeyStoreHandle();
                         _fingerSlot = new FingerprintSlot();
                     }
-                    key = _storeHandle.generateKey(_fingerSlot.getID());
+                    key = _storeHandle.generateKey(_fingerSlot.getUUID().toString());
                 } catch (Exception e) {
                     throw new UndeclaredThrowableException(e);
                 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/views/KeyProfileAdapter.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/views/KeyProfileAdapter.java
index b82318ae..ec316583 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/views/KeyProfileAdapter.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/views/KeyProfileAdapter.java
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import android.view.ViewGroup;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.UUID;
 
 import me.impy.aegis.R;
 import me.impy.aegis.helpers.ItemTouchHelperAdapter;
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ public class KeyProfileAdapter extends RecyclerView.Adapter<KeyProfileHolder> im
     }
 
     public void removeKey(KeyProfile profile) {
-        profile = getKeyByID(profile.getEntry().getID());
+        profile = getKeyByUUID(profile.getEntry().getUUID());
         int position = _keyProfiles.indexOf(profile);
         _keyProfiles.remove(position);
         notifyItemRemoved(position);
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ public class KeyProfileAdapter extends RecyclerView.Adapter<KeyProfileHolder> im
     }
 
     public void replaceKey(KeyProfile newProfile) {
-        KeyProfile oldProfile = getKeyByID(newProfile.getEntry().getID());
+        KeyProfile oldProfile = getKeyByUUID(newProfile.getEntry().getUUID());
         int position = _keyProfiles.indexOf(oldProfile);
         _keyProfiles.set(position, newProfile);
         notifyItemChanged(position);
@@ -62,9 +63,9 @@ public class KeyProfileAdapter extends RecyclerView.Adapter<KeyProfileHolder> im
         notifyDataSetChanged();
     }
 
-    private KeyProfile getKeyByID(long id) {
+    private KeyProfile getKeyByUUID(UUID uuid) {
         for (KeyProfile profile : _keyProfiles) {
-            if (profile.getEntry().getID() == id) {
+            if (profile.getEntry().getUUID().equals(uuid)) {
                 return profile;
             }
         }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/views/SlotHolder.java b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/views/SlotHolder.java
index 8d6002cb..dd661231 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/views/SlotHolder.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/me/impy/aegis/ui/views/SlotHolder.java
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ public class SlotHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder {
             if (FingerprintHelper.isSupported()) {
                 try {
                     KeyStoreHandle keyStore = new KeyStoreHandle();
-                    if (keyStore.containsKey(slot.getID())) {
+                    if (keyStore.containsKey(slot.getUUID().toString())) {
                         _slotUsed.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
                     }
                 } catch (KeyStoreHandleException e) { }